This blogosphere is a community. It may seem strange to read that, given that we've never seen each other, couldn't recognize one another in an empty room and seem connected only by cords and cables. We are connected by something more, though. The desire to build a better world for ourselves, our children, our families. The drive to create change and to push ourselves beyond our own comfort zones. The yearning for a place to feel at home.

By posting again, after her farewell message, Crunchy showed that she was at home in the blog community she helped build, felt safe enough to change her mind but also to reclaim time for herself.

It is no secret that I admire Crunchy, not in the scary stalker way (I promise! really!), or even in the "she's the most popular girl in the blogosphere" way. Rather, to me, she is a role model. Someone who proves that anything is possible. Someone who erases the self-doubt and the "what can one person do" questions littering our eco-consciousness.

So beautifully written - and I so agree about the power of community (and that chicken). Thank you so much for getting me to think through just why it is that I feel so empowered by Crunchy and this entire ecoblogging community.

Hey Green Bean, I say we stalk Crunchy Chicken, kidnap her, and bring her down here to the Blogher Conference in July so we can prove to CindyW that she really is just one person. And to make everyone else jealous!

Yeesh, GB, I drop off the radar for two days and there is a crunchy-revolution going on! You all mean so much to me, so I don't even know where to begin. I will try... tomorrow. After I get some sleep. This was the last week of school. I have 4 kids. I can't think to blog straight right now! :o)

EB: Don't worry. There will be plenty more to come. You can't drop off the radar forever . . . we will find you. But send me an email at greenbeandreams (at) gmail (dot) com so it will be easier to track you down. And thank you! Glad to have made you cry. ;-)

Shannon: Great point. Crunchy is a motivator but not a judger. She pushes us but doesn't think less of us if we just can't do it.